€ 4.5 million project – Modus Energy expanded biogas plant in Vievis
A new state-of-the-art biodegradable materials processing line is entering its final completion stage in the Ažuolinė region, near Vievis. The project has been completed by Tvari energija, a firm owned by the renewable energy company Modus Energy. The investment exceeded EUR 4.5 m.
It is the first and one of the most advanced biogas power plants with an integrated biodegradable materials processing line in the Baltic states. The operation of the power plant fully meets the principles of circular economy – as a result of the technological process, both economic and industrial waste are converted into materials used to generate biogas, which can then be used to generate energy and produce fertilisers for the agriculture sector.
The power plant is estimated to process about 20,000 tonnes of different biodegradable materials. These are mainly generated in the food industry – expired shelf life products, non-conforming items, oils, slaughterhouses and food outlets waste. The recycling process will produce about 2 million cubic meters of biogas per year. This amount will be sufficient to generate 4,200 MWh of energy. The development of the biogas power plant will create five new jobs.
"The development of the power plant in the Ąžuolinė region and the installation of a state-of-the-art biodegradable materials processing line is a contribution to the development of renewable energy resources in the country. Additionally, the enhanced capacities of this power plant will ensure a continuous supply of cheaper energy to Elektrėnai and Vievis. Since the launch of the biogas power plant, the price of heat energy in Vievis has fallen by some 30 per cent. This model of green energy production and processing of biodegradable materials is very common in the Scandinavian and Western European countries", – says Mr. Ruslanas Sklepovičius, Chairman of the Board at Modus Energy.
According to Mr. Sklepovičius, the investment in the biodegradable materials processing facility is in line with the operational priorities of the Modus Group, of which Modus Energy is a part. By investing in renewable energy in Lithuania, and elsewhere in Europe, and combining with modern mobility solutions, the Group aims in contributing to the development of added value and environmentally friendly energy.
The mayor of the Elektrėnai municipality, Mr. Kęstutis Vaitukaitis, pointed out that the development of renewable energy, and the increase of its efficiency, are particularly beneficial for Elektrėnai and Vievis, as it allows to reduce the households heating bills. "The biogas plant enables us to buy cheaper heating energy. Because of this investment, we believe that green energy will account for the majority of this reduction. We are probably the only municipality in the country to use the potential of renewable energy efficiently, and at least partly amortize the increasing heating bills" – says Mr. Vaitukaitis.
According to Mr. Darius Remeika, Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service, a proper processing of animal by-products is absolutely necessary, as it directly affects public health, and is one of the main conditions for ensuring a proper handling of animal diseases, and this requires a great deal of controls. "Due to current technologies, there are increasingly new opportunities to utilise animal by-products in many production sectors, and ultimately to generate energy. It is engaging to see that for the purpose of developing its activities, the company has chosen the innovation path – the new equipment and the infrastructure meet all relevant EU standards, and the most advanced technologies, allowing animal by-products to be converted into bioenergy” – says Mr. Remeika.
The biodegradable materials processing line in the Ąžuolinė region is fully automated and operates using cutting-edge technical solutions.
The state-of-the-art technologies, and the infrastructure, ensure that materials are processed and gas supplied both in a closed cycle; the air in the line systems is continuously filtered by multi-stage filters, and cannot escape into the atmosphere. The smart systems in place automatically record even the smallest deviation and immediately alert the line operators. The biodegradable materials are transported to the line by special vehicles, ensuring that the raw materials for the biogas production do not come into contact with the environment at any time.
Modus Energy has completed 11 biogas projects in Lithuania, generating a total capacity of 10 MW.
Through its controlled companies Modus Energy and Green Genius, Modus Group is a proactive player in the European renewable energy market. Currently the most important development and investment efforts are focused in Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Italy and Spain.
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